Tractor draft appliance



May 11 1926.

B. E. SMITH TRACTOR DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed April 20, 1925 B. E. MITH, WW1

Patented Riley 11, 1926.

BRYAN E. SMITH, OF FAULKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACTOR DRAFT APPLIANCE.

Application filed April 20, 1925.

lily invention has reference in its broad aspect, to improvements in 8131'111510011113911- sated draft appliances for use in coupling a load to a tractor, and particularly to that type of tractorcommonly known to the trade as a Case tractor; and more particularly it is my purpose to equalize the draft and cushion the draft apparatus to the end that a load will be more effectively transported and sudden jolts and the like absorbed and compensated.

My invention especially resides in the provision of a tri-angular draft appliance which is pivoted at its apex to a pull base,- and wherein the member constituting one side, or leg, will function is a draw-bar; the member constituting another side, or leg, as a reach rod or connection between the drawbar and pull base; andthe remaining member normally functioning as an idler, the effective load on that end of the draw-bar being sustained by an adjustable spring compensating member.

My invention furthermore contemplates the provision of suitable means for supporting my draft appliance in one plane of operation. and other means are provided whereby a load may be coupled with the draw-bar at any one of a number of points throughout its length. My invention also aims to simplify and greatly increase the practicability of devices of this character, to the end that the above and other objects are attained without unduly increasing the number of parts.

The structural elements employed to accomplish the above and other results and objects will be hereinafter more fully de scribed in detail and specifically pointed out in the claims appended hereunto and forming a part of this specification, but the scope of the invention may only be determined by the limits defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of my assembly,

Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in sec tion, of my pull base coupling.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like or similar parts throughout the several views The numeral (1) designates conventionally the pull base of a tractor of the Case type, and (2) and (3) are pull base plates.

Serial No. 24,510.

Pivoted by means of a bolt (et) between the plates (2) and (3) are reach rods (5) and (6), the same being superposed at. their pivoted ends and separated by washers (7). The reach rod (6) has a bend formed in its pivoted end so that the rods will lie in a common plane at the point where they extend through-the space between transverse supporting bars (8) and (8) of the supporting member generally designated by (9). The bars (8) and (8 are respectively riveted or otherwise attached to side bars (10) which are attached tothe-tractor (not shown).

Pivotally connected to the endof reach rod (5) is mydraw bar (11) which same is provided with a plurality of spaced openings (12) through any one of which the load coupling (13) may be inserted to attain the required angle of draft with respect to the pull base and the line or path of travel of the tractor. The remaining; end of the draw bar (11) is turned upon itself as at (1 1) and internally screwthreaded to receive an adjustlng screw (15), one end of which has affixed thereto a hand wheel (16) and the other end provided with a hook (17). The hook (17) engages in a swivel hook connection (18) carried by a master spring (19) ofheavy tension, which same is connected at its remaining end with a hook (20) formed on the end of the bolt (4). The spring constitutes the resilient compensating; device for the draw bar and normally sustains the load. Its tensional force upon the end of the draw bar may be adjusted with facility by means of the screw (15).

The reach rod (6) has riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto a U-strap or bracketing member (21) through which the draw bar (11) extends for limited free movement. Thus in the event that the load exceeds the tensional capacity of the spring (19) the drawbar is moved to engagement with the strap in which event the reach rod (6) sustains the load. This result also obtains should an unusual jolt or the like be encountered. In other words, the strap limits the free movement of the draw bar in response to variations in load. It will therefore be seen that the reach rod (6) is normally an idler with the load sustained by the spring (19), but that it becomes active when the load exceeds the normal tensional capacity of the spring.

While it is believed that the operation of my draft appliance will be apparent from the foregoing, special emphasis is laid upon its simplicity, the absence of fragile parts, the utilization of stock material, and the unique arrangement of such parts to the end that they may be readily replaced if they become worn or broken.

\Vhile in the foregoing, there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation oi the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention and its objects with such attention to detail as will thoroughly acquaint one skilled in the art with its construction and advantages, I clain 1. A draft appliance for tractors comprising a draw bar, a plurality of members connecting the draw bar with a pull base, one of said members having pivotal connection with the draw bar, another of said members being inherently resilientand adjustably connected with the drawbar to sustain loads within certain predetern'iined limits, and the other-member having limited slidable connection with the draw bar to sustain loads in excess of the capacity of the resilient member.

2. A draft appliance for tractors comprising a draw bar, a plurality of members connecting the draw bar with a pull base, one of said members being normally idle with respect to sustaining a load, another of said members being resilient to sustain loads within certain predetcrn'iined limits, and means connecting the normally idle member with the draw bar whereby to engage the draw bar to sustain loads in excess of the capacity of the resilient member.

3..A draft appliance for tractors comprising a draw bar, a plurality of members con necting the draw bar with a pull base, one of said members having pivotal connection with the draw bar at one of its ends, another of said members having limited sliding connection with the drawb-ar adjacent its other end, and an inherently resilient member adjustably connected with the draw bar at its last mentioned end and lying substantially parallel with said member having slidable connection with the draw bar.

4. Adratt appliance for tractors comprising a draw-bar, a reach rod connecting the draw-bar at one of its ends with a pull base, a spring connecting the other end of the draw bar to the pull base, a normally idle member extending from the pull base to the draw bar, and a collar on said idle member adapted to engage and sustain-the draw bar under loads in excess of those normally Within predetermined capacities of the spring.

5. A draft appliance for tractors comprising a draw-bar, a reach rod connecting the draw-bar at one of its ends with a pull base, a spring connecting the other end of the draw bar to the pull base, a second reach rod extending from the pull base to the draw bar, a collar on said last mentioned reach rod, said collar adapted to engage the draw bar under loads in excess of those normally with in predetermined capacities of the spring, and anadjusting screw carried by the drawbar and engaging the spring for the pur pose defined.

In testimony whereofll aliix my signature hereunto,

BRYAN SMITH. 

